Idaho’s primaries for procrastinators: What’s on Tuesday’s ballot? How do I vote?
You’ve seen the lawn signs and gotten flyers in the mail. But do you know what this election season in Idaho is actually about?
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 19, and you need a last-minute guide. The Idaho Statesman has you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s on your ballot, how to vote, and how to find out whether your candidates pulled through.
Another election? What’s on my ballot?
It’s that time of year again. This election is the primary, where voters of each party choose among the candidates running for their nomination. In Idaho, which has a closed Republican primary, only registered Republicans can cast votes on the Republican ticket. Democrats and unaffiliated voters can vote on the Democratic ticket.
Winners of the primary go on to face challengers from the other parties in the general election on Nov. 3.
This year, voters across the Gem State will pick their party nominees for governor, Idaho’s Congressional delegation, state legislative seats and county government positions. There’s also a contested district judgeship in Ada County.
Want to know what you’ll get to weigh in on? For starters, you can check out the Statesman’s list of candidates for federal and statewide offices, plus candidates for the Legislature and judgeships seeking to represent districts in the Treasure Valley, in our story: “Boise-area voters: See who’s running in the May primary for Congress, Idaho offices.”
You can also view what’s on your own ballot at voteidaho.gov/on-the-ballots/ by clicking the “View Your Sample Ballot” button. There, you’ll be prompted to type in your name and date of birth to view your ballot and get your polling location and other voter information.
What are the highlights? Be on the lookout for candidates running for Idaho’s two U.S. House seats and one of its U.S. Senate seats. Those three federal posts are contested, as long-term incumbents seek to fend off challengers. Western Ada County and all of Canyon County fall within Idaho’s 1st congressional district, which stretches north to the Canadian border, while most of Boise is in the 2nd District, which runs east to the Wyoming and Montana borders.
Voters will also see candidates in the crowded race for the governorship, where eight Republicans, including incumbent Gov. Brad Little, and four Democrats have put their hats in the running. All told, there are 17 people pursuing the governor’s seat.
Voters in Ada and Canyon counties will weigh in on contested primaries in Idaho’s legislative Districts 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 20, 22 and 23. Also on the ballot are primaries for county commission seats 1 and 2 in Ada County and seat 1 in Canyon County, plus contested races for Ada County treasurer and for coroners in both counties.
In Idaho’s 4th Judicial District, which encompasses Ada, Boise, Elmore and Valley counties, three candidates are facing off for a nonpartisan judgeship.
OK, but am I registered to vote? If not, how hard is it to register?
If you’re not sure whether you’re registered to vote, you can check your status at voteidaho.gov/. Hover over the Voting tab at the top and click on “Registering to Vote.” Scroll down and click on the “Check Your Registration” button, which will ask you for your name and date of birth.
If you’re not registered or need to update your information, you can register at your polling place on Election Day. Even if you have previously registered to vote, you will need to update your registration on Election Day if you recently moved, changed your name or have not voted in the past four years.
You can register if:
- You’re 18 years of age or older.
- A U.S. citizen.
- A resident of Idaho for at least 30 days before Election Day.
Make sure you bring:
- A photo identification (state-issued ID card or driver’s license, U.S. passport or federal photo ID card, tribal card, or concealed weapons license issued by a county sheriff in Idaho).
- A state ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
- Proof of residency, which could be in the form of: a photo ID with your correct address, proof of insurance, a rental agreement, a utility bill or bank statement, a property tax assessment or bill, a paycheck or stub, a document demonstrating intake to a care facility, an enrollment letter from an Idaho high school or university, or a letter from a social service agency.
In Idaho, people with felony convictions may not register until after completing the terms of their sentence.
If you’re already registered to vote, all you need to show up with on Election Day is your ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID card, tribal card or U.S. passport.
Where is my polling place? When should I vote?
If you’re already registered, check your mail. You may have received a voter information card recently that lists the precinct, legislative district and congressional district you live in. Congrats — this card also lists your polling place.
Didn’t get the card or can’t find it? Once again, voteidaho.gov/ is your go-to. Hover over that Voting tab you used to check your registration status, and this time, select “Where to Vote.” Scroll down and click on “Find Your Polling Location,” then type in your address. If you live in Ada County, you can also check out this map and find your polling place by typing in an address at the top.
When you arrive on Election Day, you’ll check in with an election worker and vote in a private kiosk. You’re allowed to bring notes with you. If you make a mistake, you can ask a poll worker for a new ballot.
Polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can still vote after polls close as long as you’re in line by 8 p.m.
If you’re voting with an absentee ballot, you can return it by mail, drop it off at an official elections drop box, or bring it to your county elections office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. In Ada County, drop boxes are located at the Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Star and Kuna city halls. The Ada County Elections Office is at 400 N. Benjamin Lane in Boise. In Canyon County, absentee ballots must be returned to the county elections office at 1102 E. Chicago St. in Caldwell.
I want to know more about the candidates. How can I get up to speed?
For this, the Idaho Statesman provides several key sources.
At IdahoStatesman.com/Election, you’ll find links to news and feature stories about key races, campaign contributions and candidates’ legal histories.
You also can check out the Statesman’s Voter Guides for contested races, where you can hear from the candidates in their own words. Those include candidates’ photos, bios and unedited answers to questions about their priorities and the key issues facing their constituents.
The Statesman’s editorial page also features the editorial board’s recommendations, as well as videos of interviews with candidates.
How will I know my vote counted? What about who won?
Statesman reporters will bring you live results on Election Night, starting when the polls close. We’ll be updating results throughout the night as new numbers come in and will report them at IdahoStatesman.com and in our Idaho Statesman app.
And for those who live in Ada County, the county’s new ballot verifier tool is returning this spring. That’s good for allowing voters to view cast ballots sorted by precinct, contest or candidate — without any identifying information. You’d just have to be a little patient; the county election’s office warns it could take four to six weeks for ballots to appear on the verifier.
